What are new minors and programs at Sacred Heart University? The Jack Welch College of Business & Technology, also known as WCBT, is frequently enhancing its offerings with the latest advancements in the world of business for students to create connections.
The curriculum is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. Minors are sometimes added, specifically in the management program, including entrepreneurship and sales.
Dean Martha Crawford responded to questions about the new programs at WCBT in an email interview, with the participation of Prof. Jeanine Andreassi, Chair of the Management Department.
“The small family business and entrepreneurship minor was revamped in the fall of 2019. It is now an entrepreneurship and innovation minor,” said Crawford. “Increasingly, organizations are seeking individuals who have an entrepreneurial mindset and are creative problem solvers.”
According to Crawford, the program is designed to sharpen those skills in students so that they add value to their own organization’s innovation goals or eventually have the right tool kit to launch their own successful businesses.
“In the spring of 2021, the Management Department launched a sales minor as a joint offer with the Marketing Department,” said Crawford. “The minor started in the fall of 2020 and is already running with full classes and growing in popularity.”
The management program focuses on problem-solving, communication and leadership. According to the Sacred Heart website, business students focus their learning on data and technology.
“An e-sports minor was launched as a joint program with the School of Communications. Six executive-level speakers helped launch the program. Lastly, a technology management minor was developed in the MBA program,” said Crawford.
Students within the program can apply for endowed scholarships like the Arianna Petillo Scholarship and John F. Welch Scholarship. Recipients of an endowed scholarship are known as Welch Scholars.
Senior Anna Martinelli is a recipient of the Arianna Petillo Scholarship – an endowed scholarship created by Sacred Heart President John Petillo and his family.
“Welch Scholar Anna Martinelli is working with the department to develop a mentoring program where Human Resource (HR) Masters students will mentor HR students. Prof. Christian’s MBA class will be exploring ways that MBA students and/or MBA alumni can be used to mentor management students and, if successful, other WCBT students as well,” said Crawford.
The university offers membership in the Society of Human Resource Management. (SHRM). This is known as the largest human resource association in the world.
“SHRM has developed a Human Resource Curriculum Guidebook that is based on extensive research and contains components that are most relevant to early-career HR professionals,” said Martinelli. “Sacred Heart’s Human Resource Management minor program has recently been fully aligned with SHRM’s HR Curriculum Guidelines. As a result, students enrolled in the minor program have the opportunity to apply for the SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) Exam.”
The crossover between WCBT and SHRM allows for more opportunity for students.
“Sacred Heart students will be able to graduate with their SHRM-CP and be recognized as experts and leaders in the HR field, giving them an advantage among competition when entering the job market,” said Martinelli.
Mentoring is also a part of WCTB students’ leadership opportunities and experiences at Sacred Heart.
“The SHRM Mentor Program is designed to connect Sacred Heart undergraduate students who are interested in pursuing a career in Human Resources with a SHU graduate student who is enrolled in the Masters of Strategic Human Resource Management Program and involved in Sacred Heart’s SHRM student chapter,” said Martinelli.
Human Resources focuses on managing future and current employees. A SHRM Mentor Program will provide graduate students the experience in training.
“The relationship formed between the mentees and their mentors will allow undergraduate students the opportunity to start networking and build their HR network, and will allow mentors the opportunity to encourage and advise undergraduates by sharing their own experience, advice and knowledge,” said Martinelli.
The SHRM Mentor Program will enhance the undergraduate student connection for future opportunities with older generations.
